Valentine's Day Brings Tickets to Romance

Valentine's Day Brings Tickets to Romance

**Tickets to 2008 Hawaii Romance Festival Go On Sale February 14**

HONOLULU, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Love will be in the air during the 2008 Hawaii Romance Festival from May 2 - 11 with a series of concerts, events, and festivities dedicated to celebrating amour. So what better day than Valentine's Day to get "tickets to romance." Tickets for all Hawaii Romance Festival concerts will go on sale on Thursday, February 14 -- which may make it a perfect last-minute gift for would-be romancers.

The 2008 Hawaii Romance Festival concerts promise a wide array of well-known local, national and international entertainers. Events include:

Sunday, May 4, International Music Night, 7:00 p.m., Waikiki Shell

Romance goes international at the Waikiki Shell with the incredible Latin rhythms of Sergio Mendes and his band combining with the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii to create a magical music experience. They will be joined by Hawaii's ambassador of music Amy Hanaiali'i; popular Filipino entertainer Martin Nievera; 'ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro; and South Korean R&B and K-Drama singer Kim Bum Soo. Tickets are $25 for lawn seating; $65 and $95 for terrace seating; and $150 for premium seating, which includes a CD from a key performing artist.

Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8, "The Most Romantic Songs Ever Written ... Part 2," 7:30 p.m., Historic Hawaii Theatre

Hosted once again by one of America's most romantic couples, Nick and Nina Clooney, these concerts are a continuation of the wonderful Broadway-style show that premiered last year at the Hawaii Theatre. Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell stars, along with Hawaii's very own Jimmy Borges, Matt Catingub, Anita Hall, Glenn Mederios and others, performing the next "20 Most Romantic Songs Ever Written" as voted on by a survey of members of the music industry. Tickets are $25 for balcony seating; $65 for loge seats; and $95 for orchestra seating and prime loge seats.

Friday, May 9, Back to Romance, 7:00 p.m., Waikiki Shell

This concert under the stars features the legendary and incomparable icon of Motown: Mr. Smokey Robinson, who is returning to Hawaii for the first time in two decades. This poetically romantic evening will also celebrate Hawaii's best selling Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii's Back To Romance CD, which features some of the greatest male vocalists from Hawaii. Joining Maestro Matt Catingub on stage will be: Robert Cazimero; Cecilio & Kapono; Eric Gilliom; Nathan Aweau and Barry Flanagan of HAPA; and Kaukahi -- with more to come -- for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime music experience. Tickets are $25 for lawn seating; $65 and $95 for terrace seating; and $150 for premium seating and includes a CD from a key performing artist.

Saturday, May 10, The Rhythm of Romance - 2, 7:30 p.m., Blaisdell Arena

R&B legend and superstar Gladys Knight, plus soul singer Aaron Neville and American Idol's Kimberley Locke all join with Island musicians from the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii and other vocalists for this second installation of "The Rhythm of Romance." Tickets are $35 for upper balcony seats; $65 lower balcony seating; $95 for floor, risers and loge seating; and $150 for premium floor and riser seating, which includes CDs from all key-performing artists.

Tickets for the Waikiki Shell and Blaisdell Arena events are available through Ticketmaster, online at ticketmaster.com and at the Blaisdell box office. Tickets for the Hawaii Theatre are available through the Hawaii Theatre Box Office and online at hawaiitheatre.com. Corporate sponsorships, tables and block seating are available through the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii by calling (808) 545-SONG (7664).

The Hawaii Romance Festival is hosted by the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii and is sponsored in part by: Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the official hotel provider of the Hawaii Romance Festival; the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Pleasant Holidays; The House of Harry Winston; 'Iolani Palace; KGMB-TV; Blockbuster Video; and Paul Brown Salon & Spa. For more information about the 2008 Hawaii Romance Festival, visit http://www.hawaiiromancefestival.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Hawaii Romance Festival

CONTACT: Jocelyn Collado of Becker Communications, +1-808-533-4165, for
Hawaii Romance Festival

Web site:

http://www.hawaiiromancefestival.com/

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